Breaking News

Zimbabwe's violent crackdown continues with reports of rape

Fearful residents locking themselves in at night with at least 12 killed in unrest as sexual assault reports emerge.
A violent crackdown continued in Zimbabwe as rights groups alleged women
had been raped during house-to-house searches, while the government
criticised a report by its own rights commission that said security
forces had used "systematic torture".

Zimbabweans said on Friday abuses have not calmed since President
Emmerson Mnangagwa denounced the violence as "unacceptable". The unrest
began last week as people protested a steep increase in fuel prices that
made gasoline the world's most expensive. The government accuses the
opposition of stirring up trouble.

The army asserts uniformed perpetrators accused of abuses are "bogus elements" out to tarnish its image.

Fearful residents in poor and working-class suburbs of the capital,
Harare, and second city, Bulawayo, are locking themselves in at night.
At least 12 people have been killed in the unrest and more than 300
wounded, scores with gunshot wounds, doctors and rights workers have
said.

"We have received very disturbing reports of a number of cases of women
allegedly raped by members of security forces," said Dewa Mavhinga,
southern Africa director for Human Rights Watch.

"Beatings, harassment and other abuses have continued after Mnangagwa's
return and there are no clear actions from the government to hold
accountable those committing the abuses."

Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said she had not received any reports of rape.

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said a critical report earlier this
week by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, a constitutional body, was
not based on "thorough investigation" and did not cover the "two most
anarchical days" of last week's unrest.

Those with complaints should report them to the police or to military police, he said.
'Lethal force'

Meanwhile, vendors in the city centre were being routinely rounded up by
the military, beaten and dumped at police stations, human rights lawyer
Doug Coltart said.

Dozens of civil society leaders, opposition figures and activists have
gone into hiding, fearing for their lives, Amnesty International said in
a statement. It noted reported rapes, "lethal force" against protesters
and the targeting of health workers who treat victims.

"Children as young as 11 years old have been detained on frivolous
charges," said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty's southern Africa director. "The
authorities must immediately stop this merciless crackdown."

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said arrests of suspected protesters continued with many denied bail.

On Friday the High Court in Harare said it would rule on Tuesday on an
application by well-known activist and pastor Evan Mawarire to be
released on bail. He has been held for a week and is charged with
subversion, which carries a 20-year prison sentence. He is accused of
inciting the unrest online. His lawyer rejects the allegations.